• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
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  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    Food treatment device for high hydrostatic pressures in continuous regime, and associated procedure. The present invention discloses a cold food sterilization machine, by applying pressures high enough to destroy unwanted microorganisms. The machine is capable of treating solid foods on a continuous basis. For this, it comprises a treatment chamber (2) crossed by at least one spindle (4) housings (12) in which the food to be treated is located. A high-pressure working fluid leaves the chamber (2) through the interstitial space (21) defined between the spindle (4) and the cylinder (3) in which it travels. The presence of holes (20) in the bottoms (18) and/or ridges (19) of the spindle (4) significantly increases the pressure drop. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
    公开号:ES2737501A1
    申请号:ES201830681
    申请日:2018-07-06
    公开日:2020-01-14
    发明作者:López Antonio Martínez；Aliaga Maria Dolores Rodrigo；Martínez Cuauhtemoc Marín；Rodríguez Hiram Varela
    申请人:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas CSIC；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [0001]
    [0002]
    [0003]
    [0004] SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE
    [0005]
    [0006] The invention hereby advocated is part of the food industry sector. More specifically, a machine for the sterilization of food is disclosed, by a high cold pressure procedure that attacks the microorganisms it contains, as well as a process of food treatment by high hydrostatic pressures in continuous regime that makes use of the device.
    [0007]
    [0008] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
    [0009]
    [0010] In the prior art prior to this invention, there is a plurality of devices dedicated to food sterilization. The most widespread sterilization process involves the application of heat, to subject the food to a temperature high enough to cause the death of the target microorganisms. The application time of a temperature is inversely proportional to its magnitude. That is, a very high temperature may be sufficient for a very short time, and a lower temperature will require a longer time. The application of temperature is an effective procedure for the destruction of microorganisms, but it has several disadvantages, among which are browning, the destruction of some nutrients and the loss of organoleptic qualities of the food.
    [0011]
    [0012] In order to solve these problems, devices called "high hydrostatic pressure" were proposed. Its rationale is to replace the application of heat by pressure. For this, the food to be treated is passed through a chamber filled with a fluid that exerts a pressure very high, normally greater than 100 MPa, and up to 700 MPa being customary. It is known that these pressures destroy a large number of microorganisms, so they constitute a form of cold food sterilization. state of the art pressures work in a discontinuous regime, that is, they have a high pressure chamber into which The food to be treated is immediately filled with fluid, the chamber is sealed and the pressure is applied. Once the necessary time has elapsed, the chamber reopens and the food, already sterilized, is removed. This cycle is repeated cyclically. The discontinuous regime has the disadvantage of being slower and requiring more intervention than a continuous regime. A device that works continuously, in addition to sterilizing more kilograms of food per hour than a discontinuous device of equal capacity, requires less interaction with the operators, since its operation is easier. The discontinuous divide their operation into several stages; for example, gate opening, chamber filling, gate closing, pressure application, emptying and gate opening. However, the continuous ones, once underway, work in a single stage, in which the food is entering and leaving uniformly throughout the device. They are therefore simpler equipment from the point of view of the process. In the state of the art, high-pressure hydrostatic equipment with continuous operation is restricted to liquid foods.
    [0013]
    [0014] A large number of technological solutions are known for subjecting a fluid to high pressures, of the order of 700 MPa. They comprise a high-pressure hydraulic pump and pass the fluid through a conduction with great pressure loss, usually a very small diameter tube. When this fluid is a liquid food, we are talking about a high hydrostatic pressure treatment.
    [0015]
    [0016] Liquid foods can be easily treated continuously because they flow and pass through very narrow conduits, for example with a diameter of less than 500 micrometers. However, solid foods have large dimensions and cannot be passed through narrow conduits, which forces them to be treated discontinuously.
    [0017]
    [0018] An example of a device for sterilization by high hydrostatic pressures is that disclosed in patent AU763692B2. This document develops a machine for the sterilization of liquid foods contained in bottles, using a rotor that displaces the bottles and a high pressure pump.
    [0019]
    [0020] EP0894440A1 discloses a method and apparatus for the continuous sterilization of liquid foods, by means of a system that preferably increases the pressure in two stages.
    [0021]
    [0022] US20080311259A1 discloses a system for sterilizing liquid foods in a continuous regime, which comprises a flexible tube within a wrapping membrane that exerts pressure on it.
    [0023]
    [0024] In the state of the art there are no known devices of this type that work for solid foods. It is therefore necessary to develop equipment that allows sterilization by high hydrostatic pressures not only of liquid foods, but also solid ones.
    [0025]
    [0026] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION
    [0027]
    [0028] For all the above, it is necessary to develop new technologies that allow the treatment of food through high hydrostatic pressures in a continuous regime and that includes the possibility of treating solid products.
    [0029]
    [0030] The machines of high hydrostatic pressures in general (hereinafter APH) comprise some treatment chamber where food to be processed is located. This chamber is filled by a working fluid, which is responsible for exerting the pressure necessary to achieve sterilization. The working fluid moves in a closed circuit, driven by at least one pump; it makes a cyclic route from said chamber to the outside, and vice versa.
    [0031]
    [0032] This document will refer to solid foods. It should be noted that the invention also comprises the treatment of liquid foods, preferably being previously introduced in a hermetically sealed bag and commonly used in APH technology. The term "solid food" is not limiting the scope of the invention, and refers to the preferred use thereof. "Solid food" means one that simultaneously meets the following three conditions: i) does not disintegrate by simple action of forces of the order of magnitude of their own weight
    [0033] ii) at an ambient temperature, considering as such between 15 and 40 ° C, the food does not adapt to the container that contains it, just as water or any other other fluid
    [0034] iii) has a weight greater than 10 milligrams.
    [0035]
    [0036] Condition iii) is established to include foods that usually come in the form of small granules, such as cereals.
    [0037]
    [0038] As an example, foods that are so called in popular culture would be solid: an apple, a banana, a steak, etc. In turn, gels will also be solid according to this definition: food jelly, curd, flan, etc. Some foods, such as bread, can be broken down if high external pressure is exerted, but in no case by their own weight. Therefore, bread is another case of solid food. Another notable case of solid food is grains and legumes. The individual grains of rice, lentils, corn grains, etc., meet the three previous requirements and therefore are solid foods.
    [0039]
    [0040] In this document the concept "sterilization" is used successively. Sterilization means a treatment that attacks all or part of the microbial fauna, including spores and viruses as part of it. Sterilization implies a reduction in the number of individuals of at least one species, which will be greater or lesser depending on the treatment. More specifically, this document always refers to a particular type of cold sterilization, which does not apply heat. Pressure sterilization occurs, also called pascalization. It should be noted that inherently to an increase in pressure, sometimes a slight increase in temperature occurs, but always below the values of a heat sterilization and without being a property sought in this invention. As an illustrative example, in a typical industrial pascalization a food can raise its temperature from 25 ° C to 35-40 ° C, an ineffective value for sterilization purposes and which does not cause deterioration of the typical protein quality of pasteurizations, that work above 60 ° C.
    [0041]
    [0042] Hereinafter, "treatment chamber" and "chamber" will be used as synonyms.
    [0043]
    [0044] In order for an APH machine to handle solids continuously, it must be able to reduce, at some point in its structure, the pressure of the working fluid up to atmospheric It is at this point where the food to be treated will be placed, which can be done manually by an operator. Once placed, they must be dragged by the mechanisms of the machine into the treatment chamber, which is at the high pressure that corresponds to the sterilization of the same. Being the natural pressure of a very high APH machine, it can be difficult to find a mechanical solution that allows it to be reduced to atmospheric pressure at some point and with a small flow. For example, reduce the pressure from 7,000 bar to 1 bar, and with a flow rate of less than 1 liter per minute. The difficulty lies in the need for conduits that safely exert a very large loss of load, and this entails complicated and expensive designs. This is one of the reasons why APH technology does not have the same impact as thermal treatments. The present invention addresses this aspect.
    [0045]
    [0046] In the prior art, as mentioned, the working fluid circulates in a closed circuit and goes out to the outside of the treatment chamber. The outward conduction is very narrow, typically with a tube with an inside diameter of less than one millimeter, in order to cause a high pressure drop and the fluid to flow with a very small flow, for example of the order of one liter per minute. These outlets are too small and do not allow the introduction through solid foods, which reach dimensions that are usually several centimeters.
    [0047]
    [0048] The present invention discloses an APH machine that works with the usual pressure range, preferably between 50 and 1500 MPa, and more preferably between 100 and 700 MPa. It has a mechanism that causes a pressure drop large enough for the working fluid to go outside at atmospheric pressure and with a small flow. The sizing of the machine allows adjusting the flow rate to the desired values, preferably on the order of less than one liter per minute. At the point of the machine where the working fluid reaches atmospheric pressure, the solid food to be treated is introduced. Due to a specific mechanical structure, food is introduced into the chamber continuously.
    [0049]
    [0050] Hereinafter, the term "fluid" will be a mere abbreviation of the concept "working fluid".
    [0051] In this invention, the fluid flows out of the machine through the separation space between a spindle and the threaded hole through which it moves. The threaded hole is made in a cylindrical body. The way in which the spindle travels through the hole is equivalent to the way in which a screw passes through a nut. Hereinafter, the term "cylinder" shall refer to the "cylindrical body" mentioned in this paragraph, unless otherwise specified.
    [0052]
    [0053] Between the outer contour of the spindle and the walls of the threaded hole there is a very small separation; if we assume that both elements are concentric, it will be of the order of several millimeters, preferably less than one millimeter. As an illustrative example, we consider the analogy of a screw that penetrates a nut. Between the outer surface of the screw and the nut there may be contact, or a separation, which will normally be several orders of magnitude smaller than the diameter of the screw. This separation is equivalent to that between the spindle and the threaded hole of the present invention. The gap between spindle and threaded hole will be referred to as "interstitial space".
    [0054]
    [0055] The interstitial space exerts a high pressure drop, which is due on the one hand to its small dimension, which makes viscous efforts in liquids such as water important, and on the other hand because the path that is formed is winding; The fluid must make a zigzag route to cross it. These viscous stresses are due to the natural adhesion suffered by the infinitesimal particles of a liquid with the surrounding particles; by way of exemplification of the concept, in an incompressible fluid, there is a situation of significant viscous stresses when the extradiagonal components of the tension tensor of Cauchy are of the order of magnitude of the diagonal components.
    [0056]
    [0057] An additional measure that significantly increases the pressure drop is the drilling of holes on the spindle surfaces and / or the threaded hole surfaces of the cylinder. Preferably, these holes are drilled over the ridges and / or bottoms of the spindle and / or threaded hole, have a cylindrical drill shape and a depth of the order of several millimeters. All the characteristics indicated in this paragraph are common in labyrinth seals, a structure to grant tightness and limit liquid leaks, which is widely known by the person skilled in the art, so it is not They consider more explanations necessary.
    [0058]
    [0059] It is noted that in this document reference is made to the various parts of a spindle by means of the usual terminology in the art sector. Thus, the terms "fillet", "bottom" and "crest" are used, which are widely used by the person skilled in the art.
    [0060]
    [0061] A physical effect of particular relevance that is taken into account in the present invention is the dependence of the pressure drop with the path that the fluid follows through the interstitial space. If we assume that the spindle does not have a fillet, it would only consist of a cylinder. In this case, the shortest path between the inside of the treatment chamber and the outside, runs through a generatrix of said cylinder. In the real case, a spindle with fillet, the shortest path will be that which, taking as a guide the generator of the cylinder, deviates from it each time the fillet appears, making a zigzag movement to be able to circumvent it and return to the generatrix . In practice, the inventors have observed that the fluid does not travel the shortest path, since the necessary zigzag movement imposes a large pressure drop. Instead, the fluid goes outside following the bottom of the spindle, which performs a spiral path. This spiral supposes a much longer journey than the one that takes as a guide the generatrix; In a typical case it can be of the order of 15 times longer. However, the absence of zigzagging makes the pressure drop much lower and in practice it is the path that the fluid takes. In order to stop its movement in the spiral, the invention comprises the drilling of holes in the crest and bottom, both of the spindle and of the threaded hole of the cylinder in which it is located. These holes significantly increase the pressure drop along the spiral, making it comparable or even greater than the pressure drop of the shortest path.
    [0062]
    [0063] The interstitial space of this invention is too small to be able to transport a solid food through it, but this is not a problem, since the food does not travel through it: a design that allows the introduction of large-sized foods and continuously, by means of food-sized housings, defined on the body of the spindle, in which the food is located. In the prior art, the use of small interstitial spaces is incompatible with the treatment of large-scale food in continuous, since no other route of entry and exit beyond the interstitium itself. That is why they restrict themselves to liquid foods, which can pass through an interstitial space. The disclosed invention makes both properties compatible, since the disclosed spindles allow:
    [0064]
    [0065] 1.- leave a very small interstitial space with the cylinder on which they move (the thread in the screw-thread analogy), which produces a great loss of load.
    [0066] 2.- the transport of large foods, located in housings on the spindle body.
    [0067]
    [0068] An aspect of special relevance in this invention is that the effects of points 1 and 2 are usually antagonistic. That is, large cavities such as those in the housings are often opposed to the desired effect of increasing the pressure drop with narrow passages. However, a mechanical design is disclosed where the spindle has a combination of both elements arranged in series. In this way a large cavity never opposes the effect of a narrow passage. In other words, and as is known by the person skilled in the art, the total hydraulic resistance to the passage of the fluid is equal to the sum of the individual hydraulic resistors. This expression, applicable for series resistors, denotes that large cavities do not detract from small cavities. The spindles are elements that are of great interest, because their elongated geometry facilitates the serial arrangement of various elements.
    [0069]
    [0070] The invention comprises a body, referred to as a "pressure body", which contains inside the treatment chamber, which contains a fluid that exerts the high pressure necessary for the sterilization of food. This fluid can be water, water with additives, or any other fluid substance compatible with food A suitable additive for water is ethylene glycol, which reduces its melting point and prevents its freezing, a phenomenon to be avoided in APH technology. chamber, remain in it the time required for proper sterilization and then go outside.The pressure body has the necessary thicknesses to safely contain fluid pressures.
    [0071]
    [0072] The treatment chamber communicates with the outside by means of a plurality of the cylindrical bodies already mentioned. The cylinders have a threaded hole through a spindle. Every time a food passes from outside the chamber, it is at Atmospheric pressure, to its interior, at the sterilization pressure, must be previously placed in a housing defined for this purpose in the spindle. The spindle will begin to rotate and pass through the threaded hole, until the food is finally located in the treatment chamber. After the time set at the appropriate pressure has elapsed, for example 700 MPa, the food will be returned to the outside of the treatment chamber, reversing the process that introduced it.
    [0073]
    [0074] Inside the cylinder there is a pressure gradient that goes from the pressure set for sterilization, to atmospheric. The food therefore suffers a gradual increase in pressure in its travel through the cylinder, from the atmospheric to the set pressure. Vice versa happens when being expelled from the camera.
    [0075]
    [0076] In one embodiment of the invention the lubrication of the spindle is produced by the working fluid. This fluid can be water or any other of those employed in the state of the art APH technology. In the case of water, although normally its low viscosity gives it poor properties as a lubricant, in the case of APH technology it is useful for this purpose. Water from pressures above 200MPa fills the interstices that form between the spindle and the threaded hole homogeneously, and removes the bubbles. This means that it increases considerably its lubricating capacity with respect to water at the usual pressures in the industry, below 10MPa. The presence of a lubricant helps reduce friction spindle wear and facilitate its rotational movement.
    [0077]
    [0078] The inventors have found that the provision of at least two spindles is particularly advantageous, where at least one is used for the entry of food and at least one for the exit thereof. The reason for this specialization of spindles is that speed of processing is gained in relation to an intermittent use of the same spindle that acts for a time as a means of food introduction and another as a means of expulsion. If only one spindle is available, it may never be performing both tasks at the same time: or introduces or extracts food. However, with the presence of several specialized spindles, while one introduces food, another may be withdrawing them, so that the process occurs more fluidly and gains speed.
    [0079] An embodiment of the invention of particular interest comprises the arrangement of two spindles, which pass through the upper and lower ends, respectively, of a body of pressure located in vertical. Thus, an upper spindle is distinguished, which will preferably introduce food, and a lower spindle, which will preferably remove food. Since the former is higher than the latter, the food will move from one to the other with the help of gravity. At an intermediate height between the upper and lower spindle is the pressure body, which houses inside the treatment chamber, where the food supports the pressure set for sterilization. The movement that describes a food in this embodiment is described below. First, it is displaced by the upper spindle, which introduces it into the pressure chamber treatment chamber. Once in it, it moves by gravity to the lower end of it, where the lower spindle will catch the food and drive it out of the chamber.
    [0080]
    [0081] Preferably, in each cylinder-spindle pair, the cylinder remains static, and the spindle travels its longitudinal axis, while performing a rotational movement with respect to said axis. A point that is located on the periphery of the spindle, for example a point on a crest of a fillet, will take a spiral path, when the spindle moves as described in this paragraph. It has already been indicated above that an embodiment of the invention comprises defined housings on the spindle, in which the food to be transported therein is housed. As can be seen from these explanations, the food will take a route that approximates a spiral. This means that sometimes the food will be vertically above the spindle, resting on it, and at other times vertically below. In the latter case the food will have a tendency to fall by gravity and separate from the spindle, provided it is out of the cylinder. To avoid this, the invention comprises the arrangement of a concave structure, that is to say more sunken in the center than at the edges with respect to the observer, which is located below the spindle and whose geometry adapts to its own, so as to keep the separation between both elements. The concave structure will be referred to hereinafter as "sheath." The sheath is preferably located a short distance below the spindle, for example keeping a separation of the order of several millimeters.
    [0082]
    [0083] In this way, every time the food, due to the rotation of the spindle, is vertically below it, it rests on the sheath and does not abandon the drilling of the spindle on which it is located. The sheath covers the range of angles in which the force of gravity tends to feed the food from its perforation. By way For example, it is interesting that the sheath adopts a semicircle profile.
    [0084]
    [0085] This document indicates on occasion that a spindle housing is upside down or upside down. These concepts are clarified below: we assume that the housings are cylindrical and are made by means of a drill that has the diameter of the hole. We assume the spindle in a horizontal position, and the housings have been made with the vertical drill, parallel to the direction of gravity. A housing is "face up" when it has been drilled with the drill located vertically above the spindle, with a downward movement. A housing is "face down" when it has been drilled with the drill located vertically below the spindle, with a movement upward.
    [0086]
    [0087] In the pressure chamber, as already explained, the working fluid exerts the pressure set for sterilization. The chamber is not completely sealed, as it communicates with the outside, at atmospheric pressure, through the interstitial space that exists between the spindle and the threaded hole of the cylinder. The working fluid undergoes a leak through this space, and goes outside. The high pressure loss makes the flow rate of this leak very small, by way of example 300 ml per minute. In order to sustain the pressure in the treatment chamber, the fluid that goes outside must be continuously reintroduced into the treatment chamber and at the set pressure. The invention contemplates that the reintroduction is carried out by means of a high pressure pump. This pump completes a closed circuit, in which the working fluid circulates from the treatment chamber to the outside, at atmospheric pressure, and from the outside to the inside of the chamber again.
    [0088]
    [0089] In order for the closed circuit of the fluid to function properly, it is convenient that at its exit to the outside it accumulates and forms a free sheet as stable as possible. A stable sheet must acquire a horizontal shape and not suffer much displacement. To achieve the formation of a sheet of these characteristics, the provision of a housing that surrounds the spindle is contemplated, with the function of being a reservoir that accumulates inside a certain volume of working fluid, and submerged therein, Find the spindle. The fluid in the housing is part of the closed circuit.
    [0090]
    [0091] The invention contemplates any mechanism capable of providing the spindles of the necessary movement to cross the threaded holes of the cylinders. In a particular embodiment, said mechanism comprises a motor that moves complementary spindles, shorter than the spindles that pass through the cylinder. The complementary spindles are positioned vertically above the spindles of the cylinder, and are engaged thereto so that they transmit a rotational movement. The principle by which two spindles can be transmitted movement according to this configuration is widely known to the person skilled in the art, and is analogous to the transmission mechanism that operates in air screw compressors.
    [0092]
    [0093] In order that the food located in the housings of the spindles does not run the risk of being crushed or trapped between static and mobile parts, the invention contemplates the use of protective capsules, inside which the food to be treated is located. The capsules contain perforations that allow the working fluid to penetrate them to act on the food. The stiffness and toughness of the capsules prevents them from being trapped between static and mobile parts.
    [0094]
    [0095] It should be noted that the term "spindle" means in the present invention, not only the concept of traditional spindle, that with which the person skilled in the art is familiar, but also variations thereof based on removing components or modifying their geometry For example, a spindle without fillet is included within the term "spindle" used in this document and is functional, although with worse performance. The invention comprises spindles with any number of fillets, although the usual are between one and three. A spindle that changes its usual geometry with circular cross-section, for another with polygonal cross-section, is included in the invention. In the latter case, the spindle preferably moves longitudinally and without rotating, that is, it will function as a piston.
    [0096]
    [0097] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [0098]
    [0099] To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:
    [0100] Figure 1.- Longitudinal section of a corresponding device with a particular embodiment of the invention.
    [0101]
    [0102] Figure 2.- Perspective view of the device of Figure 1.
    [0103]
    [0104] Figure 3.- Perspective view of a part of the device of Figure 2. A cylinder and its spindle can be seen, among other components.
    [0105]
    [0106] Figure 4.- Partially sectioned perspective view of the object of Figure 3. In addition, the object is shown from a different angle.
    [0107]
    [0108] Figure 5.- Representation of the spiral movement described by the capsules when the spindle on which they are located is moved.
    [0109]
    [0110] Figure 6.- Perspective view of a piece of spindle, where two possible paths of the fluid can be seen, indicated with thin and thick arrows respectively, as well as the presence of drilled holes.
    [0111]
    [0112] Figure 7.- Axial section of a spindle and the cylinder it crosses. The fluid path is represented with arrows.
    [0113]
    [0114] Figure 8- Axial section of a spindle and the cylinder it crosses.
    [0115]
    [0116] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
    [0117]
    [0118] The contents of the figures are described below, sequentially, from the first to the last.
    [0119]
    [0120] A longitudinal section of an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 comprising a device for sterilization of solid foods by high hydrostatic pressures operating in a continuous regime. The device comprises a cylindrical pressure body (1), inside which it houses a treatment chamber (2), also cylindrical. The interior of the treatment chamber (2) is filled with a working fluid, which in this practical embodiment reaches a pressure of 700 MPa. Pressure body (1) must have a suitable thickness to withstand the pressure. The pressure body (1) and the internal chamber (2) are placed vertically, so that the food moves along the chamber (2) by gravity. As a means to facilitate the entry and exit of food from the chamber (2), an upper cylinder (3) is disposed, crossed by an upper spindle (4), which allows the chamber to enter (2); and a lower cylinder (5), crossed by a lower spindle (6), which allow the chamber to exit (2). The pressure body (1) and the cylinders (3,5) are welded together, forming a single body.
    [0121]
    [0122] The two cylinders (3.5) have a threaded through hole, pierced by the corresponding spindles (4.6). The spindles (4,6) pass through the treatment chamber (2) and are bathed by the working fluid. Both spindles (4,6) have the ability to rotate and move longitudinally through the inside of the threaded axial bore of the cylinders (3,5). For example, in Figure 1 the upper spindle (4) has its left end close to the corresponding left end of the upper cylinder (3), keeping a distance of 200 mm; the upper spindle (4) could begin to move longitudinally until it reverses its current position, so that it is its right end that is close to the right end of the upper cylinder (3), more specifically keeping a distance of 200 mm. The mobility of the upper spindle (4) is similarly extensible to the lower spindle (6).
    [0123]
    [0124] The working fluid moves in a closed circuit, according to the following route. The treatment chamber (2) is fully primed with the fluid, which exerts a preferential pressure of 700MPa. This pressure is sustained by the action of a high pressure pump, not shown in the figure as it is not part of the essence of the invention. This pump drives the fluid into the chamber (2) through an inlet nozzle (7), as indicated by the arrow. Once in the chamber (2), the only escape routes that the fluid has to go outside are interstitial spaces (21) that are formed between each spindle (4.6) and the respective cylinder (3.5) that go through In this way, four escape routes can be considered: left and right ends of the upper cylinder (3) and left and right ends of the lower cylinder (5). The interstitial spaces (21) between each spindle (4.6) and the respective cylinder (3.5) cause a pressure drop large enough to reduce the outflow of the working fluid below 1 liter per minute, preferably below 300 ml per minute. The Desired flow rate can be obtained by designing the cylinders (3.5) with greater or lesser length.
    [0125]
    [0126] As an illustrative example, a length of 1.2 meters is effective in reducing the leakage to 300 ml per minute if the interstitial space (21) is designed correctly. The leaked fluid is contained in housings (8), welded to each of the ends of the cylinders (3,5); therefore four housings (8) are arranged in this embodiment. The housings (8) act as a container for working fluid container. In the preferred operation of the process, the amount of liquid contained in the housings (8) is such that the fluid-free sheet is vertically above the spindles (4.6); that is, the spindles (4,6) will be totally submerged in the fluid. The fluid is continuously removed from the housings (8) through four outlet nozzles (9), as indicated by the arrows. The outlet nozzles (9) are located at a point in the lower area of their corresponding housing (8), to facilitate proper drainage. Its aspiration is carried out by a high pressure pump, not shown. This pump sucks the fluid from the housings (8), which is at atmospheric pressure, through the outlet nozzles (9), compresses it up to 700 MPa and injects it back into the chamber (2), through the inlet nozzle (7).
    [0127]
    [0128] Next, the path taken by the food is described, first towards the inside of the treatment chamber (2) and after a time of permanence in it, towards its exterior. The food is introduced in protective capsules (10), of metallic material and with through holes (11) that allow the passage of the working fluid inside; otherwise the food would not undergo high pressure treatment. These capsules (10) are in turn inserted inside housings (12) defined in the spindles (4,6). The capsules (10) fulfill the function of preventing crushing, tearing or entrapment of the food once the spindles (4,6) begin to move, and in this embodiment they are ovoid in shape with a height of 7 cm.
    [0129]
    [0130] In Figure 1 three capsules (10) are observed being introduced in three corresponding housings (12) of the upper spindle (4). This introduction can be done by hand by an operator, since the housings (12), as shown in Figure 1, are face up and located outside the upper cylinder (3), which also implies that the working fluid it will be at that point at atmospheric pressure. Once they have deposited the three capsules (10) in the housings (12), the upper spindle (4) can move longitudinally to the left. The three capsules (10), with the food inside, will pass through the upper cylinder (3) and finally reach the chamber (2), into which they will fall by gravity. In this embodiment the chamber (2) is cylindrical and has a vertical position. Once in the chamber (2), they will be there, at a pressure of 700MPa, during the time of permanence marked by the food sterilization protocol.
    [0131]
    [0132] The upper spindle (4) has in this particular embodiment six housings (12). Three of them are those already mentioned located in the right half of the upper spindle (4). The other three housings (12) are in the left half of the upper spindle (4), and in Figure 1 they are located inside the upper cylinder (3). Specifically, these housings (12) are upside down at the time shown in Figure 1, unlike the housings (12) in the right half, which are face up. The fact that the housings (12) of the left half are turned upside down causes a capsule (10) to fall, by gravity, into the treatment chamber (2). Attached to this capsule (10) is another (10), which will fall into the chamber (2) when the upper spindle (4) moves longitudinally to the left a certain distance; specifically, when it advances approximately a distance equal to the distance that separates the two consecutive capsules (10) mentioned, as understood by the person skilled in the art. It is noted that the spindles (4,6), to advance longitudinally, must rotate on their axis. This implies that the housings (12) will describe spiral movements; in a few moments they will be placed face up and in others face down, alternatively.
    [0133]
    [0134] In the embodiment of Figure 1, the upper spindle (4) must rotate two full turns (720 °) to advance longitudinally to the left the distance necessary for the capsule (10) to be positioned vertically above the chamber (2) . In addition, since they are two complete turns, the housing (12) containing the capsule (10) will keep its orientation upside down, which will allow the capsule (10) to descend towards the chamber (2). Inside the treatment chamber (2), there are three capsules (10) forming a vertical column; The food contained in these capsules is supporting a pressure of 700 MPa.
    [0135] Figure 1 also shows the lower spindle (6), which unlike the upper spindle (4), is not input but output. Three capsules (10) can be seen, in three corresponding housings (12) defined on the lower spindle (6). If this lower spindle (6) begins to move to the left, there will come a time when these three capsules (10) will be outside the lower cylinder (5). The capsules (10) will describe a spiral movement, so that once outside the lower cylinder (5), the lower spindle (6) can be moved until the three housings (12) in which they are housed coincide face up . In this way, these capsules (10) can be removed with the food already sterilized, by means of an operator.
    [0136]
    [0137] The lower spindle (6), in its right half, has three housings (12), located upside down at the time it captures Figure 1. In each housing (12) a capsule (10) is located. One of them is inside the lower cylinder (5), while the other two are outside said lower cylinder (5). The outer capsules (10) are at atmospheric pressure, while the inner one is at a higher than atmospheric pressure, by virtue of the pressure gradient that is formed along the lower cylinder (5). This gradient runs between 700 MPa and atmospheric pressure. The two outer capsules (10) are in housings (12) oriented upside down, but the additional presence of a sheath (13) prevents them from leaving the housing (12) by gravity.
    [0138]
    [0139] In the present embodiment of the invention, there are two spindles (4.6), each with six housings (12): three in the right half and three in the left half. The movement of both spindles (4,6) is alternative, they move repetitively from right to left, and from left to right; They therefore move in only one direction and in two directions. Each spindle (4,6) introduces or removes a maximum of three capsules (10) in each direction of its movement. As an illustrative example, when the upper spindle (4) moves to the left, it introduces into the treatment chamber (2) the capsules (10) located in any of its three housings (12) in the right half. On the contrary, when the upper spindle (4) moves from left to right, it is the capsules (10) located in the three housings (12) of the left half that are inserted into the chamber (2). The same applies to the lower spindle (6).
    [0140]
    [0141] The invention comprises any type of mechanism that is capable of providing spindles (4,6) of the necessary movement for its longitudinal displacement. By way of non-limiting example, in this embodiment two motors (14) are arranged, each acting on a spindle (4.6), where each motor (14) rotates a transmitter spindle (15), which engage with the respective spindle (4.6) and transmits a rotational movement that also causes its longitudinal displacement through the respective cylinders (3.5). The mechanism that operates here is the same that allows the transmission of movement between the two augers of the screw compressor pumps. This mechanism is widely known to the person skilled in the art and no further explanations are considered necessary.
    [0142]
    [0143] The spindles (4,6), due to their elongated geometry, are especially suitable for the placement of hydraulic resistors in series. The sections of each spindle (4.6) between each two consecutive housings (12) can be considered a very high hydraulic resistance, since they force the fluid to pass completely through the interstitial space (21). However, the section formed by the housing itself (12) exerts a much lower resistance, due to the large volume of fluid that fits in said housing (12). But this volume has the advantage of allowing the location of a large solid food. Both resistors are arranged alternately: between each two consecutive accommodations (12) a section without accommodation (12) is interposed, and vice versa. This means a series association of the two hydraulic resistors. In the series configuration the total hydraulic resistance of the spindle (4.6) is the sum of the individual resistances, therefore the low resistance sections (housings (12)) do not detract from the high resistance sections. If they were associated in parallel or in parallel, it would not be so. Therefore, the serial association, facilitated by the special geometry of the spindles (4,6), is particularly relevant.
    [0144]
    [0145] A perspective view of the object of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2. The two cylinders (3,5), which are welded with the pressure body (1), thus forming a single piece, can be seen. The upper (5) and lower (6) spindles are observed, and the respective transmitting spindles (15) with which they engage, subject to rotation that are printed by two motors (14). The housings (8) are observed, which contain the working fluid once it comes out of the cylinders (3,5). The pods (13) are partially visible in this view. The motors (14) rest on horizontal plates (16), welded to the housings (8). Said housings (8) are open at the top, of such that an operator can manually access the spindles (4,6) to introduce or remove the capsules (10) from the housings (12) in which they are located.
    [0146]
    [0147] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a part of Figure 2: a half of the upper cylinder (3), the piece of upper spindle (4) protruding therefrom, the housing (8) and the sheath (13) ). In this figure it can be seen that the sheath (13) covers a lower area of the upper spindle (4), in order to retain the capsules (10) when they are face down.
    [0148]
    [0149] Figure 4 shows a partially sectioned perspective view of Figure 3. Both the housing (8) is sectioned, to allow a better view through it, such as the upper spindle (4) and the upper cylinder (3), with the In order to see inside. In this embodiment, an upper spindle (4) with a larger number of housings (12) has been arranged than that of Figure 1, with the sole purpose of showing the possible variability in the design. Capsules (10) located in the housings (12) are appreciated. The capsule (10) located at the left end of the upper spindle (4) is in a position to be immediately inserted into its housing (12).
    [0150]
    [0151] Figure 5 represents the spiral path made by the same capsule (10) placed in its housing (12), when a spindle (4.6) begins to move. A plurality of capsules is not represented, but a single capsule (10) at different time points. The spiral line drawn suggests the path taken by the capsule (10). It is observed that the capsule covers 360 °. It is appreciated that between positions (A) and (B) the capsule is rotated 180 °; by way of example, if we consider that (A) is upside down, (B) is then upside down. Two moments of time are represented with the capsule facing up (A and C), separated after 360 ° rotation. Both positions (A, C) have the same orientation and are separated by a distance in the longitudinal axis of the spindle (4.6). As is natural in the spindles (4,6), and as the person skilled in the art will understand, a rotation of 360 ° leaves the capsule (10) with the same orientation, in this case oriented face up.
    [0152]
    [0153] The longitudinal advance of the capsule (10) with each 360 ° rotation is a design parameter, established with the spindle geometry (4.6) and corresponding fillets (17) defined therein. Depending on the needs of each machine, you can design a spindle (4.6) where the capsules (10) advance more or less longitudinal distance with 360 ° rotations. The design of the spindle (4,6) and the location of its housings (12) are done in a convenient way that causes the capsules (10) to fall by gravity inside the treatment chamber (2). This requires that the housing (12) coincide face down the moment it is vertically above the chamber (2). The spindle designs (4,6) and housings (12) to achieve these characteristics are immediate for the person skilled in the art, and no further explanations are considered necessary.
    [0154]
    [0155] In Figure 6 a cut is drawn that represents a fragment, seen in perspective, of one of the spindles (4,6). You can see some funds (18), crests (19) and steak (17). A peculiarity of the present invention is that in a preferred embodiment it comprises the drilling of holes (20) both in the bottoms (18) and in the ridges (19). These holes (20) fulfill the function of greatly increasing the loss of load suffered by the working fluid when circulating through the interstitial space between the spindle (4.6) and its respective cylinder (3.5).
    [0156]
    [0157] It is appreciated that the holes (20) are drilled in random positions, while some are closer to the bottom edge (18) or crest (19), as appropriate, than others. Also the distance between every two consecutive holes (20) is not constant. This is done to generate different possible combinations, as explained in the following figure.
    [0158]
    [0159] The shortest path that the working fluid can take to exit from the treatment chamber (2) to the outside is represented by thick-stroke arrows; take the generatrix as a guide and deviates from it each time the steak (17) appears, zigzagging to circumvent it.
    [0160]
    [0161] The alternative path is represented by thin-line arrows, following the spiral made by the bottoms (18) of the spindle (4.6). The inclusion of holes (20) in the bottoms (18) and ridges (19) causes a notable increase in the pressure drop along this spiral, which slows the flow of the fluid. In this way, an important resistance is introduced on what was the main leakage path of the fluid. As an illustrative example, the presence of these holes (20) can increase the resistance more than 20 times.
    [0162]
    [0163] Figure 7 shows a cut of the upper spindle (4) inside the threaded through axial bore that has the upper cylinder (3) in which it is housed. The cut is given by a plane that contains the axis of the upper cylinder (3). The interstitial space (21) is appreciated, which will have to travel the working fluid to exit from the chamber (2) to the outside. The arrows in the drawing suggest the movement of the fluid. The little separation between the upper spindle (4) and the upper cylinder (3) causes a loss of load that significantly reduces the output flow of the working fluid. In this exemplary embodiment, the vertical separation, measured in the cutting plane of Figure 7, between the bottom (18) of the upper cylinder bore (3) and the crest (19) of the upper spindle (4) is 3 millimeters
    [0164]
    [0165] In order to increase the resistance to the passage of the fluid, various holes (20) are drilled. There are holes (20) in the bottoms (18) and also in the ridges (19), both of the upper spindle (4) and the upper cylinder (3). These holes (20) have a cylindrical shape.
    [0166]
    [0167] It is noted that there are three possible combinations of holes (20). To locate them, three different directions are indicated in Figure 7, with capital letters. The combinations are: two holes (20), at the bottom and crest respectively (direction A-A '), a single hole (20), at the crest (19) or bottom (20) (direction B-B') and none hole (20) (address. C-C '). The configuration with two holes (20) generates more resistance to the passage of the fluid than the configuration with a single hole (20), and this in turn more resistance than none. The reason why the holes (20) generate resistance is based on fluid mechanics and is evident to the person skilled in the art.
    [0168] The presence of these three possibilities is due to the fact that the holes (20) are drilled in a discontinuous manner, that is, a separation between each two consecutive holes (20) is kept, and following random patterns. By random patterns it is understood that the separation distances between each pair of consecutive holes (20), along the ridges (19) and / or bottoms (18), may be random. The combinatorial resulting from the locations of the holes (20) is an obvious subject for the person skilled in the art and no further explanations are necessary.
    [0169]
    [0170] A relevant phenomenon contemplated by the invention described herein is the variability in the three configurations that have been explained: once the spindle (4.6) comes into motion, and the cylinder (3.5) being static, the randomness of the holes (20) will cause the same point of Each section configuration varies over time. For example, the section of Figure 7 captures an instant of frozen time, in which in the direction A-A 'a two-hole configuration (20) appears. But if a certain time is allowed to pass, the spindle (4.6) will rotate, and in view of this section there will be no hole (20) in the crest (19) of the spindle (4.6) that passes through A-A ' . That is, it will go from a configuration of two holes (20) to one of one. The configuration will alternate in time between two and one holes (20).
    [0171]
    [0172] The presence of variable configurations is of special relevance, since it causes a greater increase in the pressure drop than if there is a constant two-hole configuration (20) all the time. The reason is that instabilities are induced in the flow of the fluid, which never reaches a steady state.
    [0173]
    [0174] Figure 8 shows the same section as Figure 7, but at a different time. It can be seen that in the direction A-A 'the configuration of holes (20) has passed from two to one alone, in the direction B-B' has passed from one to none, and in the direction C C 'it passes from none to one. This temporal variability causes a resistance to the passage of the working fluid superior to that of a configuration with two holes (20).
    权利要求:
    Claims (7)
    [1]
    1. Food treatment device for high hydrostatic pressures in a continuous regime, comprising a pressure body (1) for applying hydrostatic pressure of a pressurized fluid to a food in solid state to be treated, wherein said pressure body ( 1) includes:
    - a treatment chamber (2) for contact of the pressure fluid with the solid food,
    - an upper cylinder (3) having an axial through hole,
    - an upper spindle (4), linearly movable through the bore of the upper cylinder (3) to introduce the food to be treated in the chamber (2),
    - a lower cylinder (5) provided with an axial through hole, and
    - a lower spindle (6), linearly movable by the lower cylinder (5) for extraction of the food treated in the chamber (2),
    the device being characterized in that the spindles (4,6) incorporate housings (12) defined in their surface for housing the solid food.
    [2]
    2. Food treatment device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cylinders (3.5) and the spindles (4.6) incorporate a plurality of holes (20) for generating a pressure drop in the fluid.
    [3]
    3. Food treatment device according to claim 1 characterized in that:
    - the axial through holes of the upper (3) and lower (5) cylinders incorporate corresponding threads, which in turn have bottoms (18) and crests (19), and
    - the upper (4) and lower (6) spindles are provided with corresponding bottoms (18) and ridges (19) for threading with the respective bottoms (18) and crests (19) of the upper (3) and lower cylinders ( 5).
    [4]
    4. Food treatment device according to claims 2 and 3 characterized in that the holes (20) are located in the bottoms (18) and the crests (19) of cylinders (3,5) and spindles (4,6) .
    [5]
    5. Food treatment device according to claim 1 characterized in that it incorporates housings (8) externally linked to the cylinders (3.5) for containment of pressurized fluid.
    [6]
    6. Food treatment device according to claim 5 characterized in that the housings (8) incorporate:
    - inlet nozzles (7) for fluid introduction, and
    - outlet nozzles (9) for fluid extraction.
    [7]
    7. Process of food treatment by high hydrostatic pressures in continuous regime that makes use of the device described in claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises the following sequence of action:
    - introduction of the food to be treated in capsules (10) containers,
    - creating pressure inside the treatment chamber (2) by filling with pressurized fluid,
    - location of the capsules (10) in the housings (12) of the upper spindle (4), - displacement of the upper spindle (4) through the upper cylinder (3),
    - gravity deposition of the capsules (10) inside the chamber (2), - gravity descent of the capsules (10) inside the chamber (2) and contact of said capsules (10) with the fluid pressurized,
    - exit of the capsules (10) from the chamber (2) and fall on the housings (12) of the lower spindle (6),
    - displacement of the lower spindle (6) through the lower cylinder (5), and
    - extraction of the lower spindle (6) from the capsules (10) with the treated food.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    WO2020008096A1|2020-01-09|
    ES2737501B2|2020-05-18|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US4646629A|1984-02-10|1987-03-03|Fmc Corporation|Sterilizing apparatus|
    JPH03112472A|1989-09-26|1991-05-14|Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd|Apparatus for high pressure treatment|
    EP0750851A1|1995-05-31|1997-01-02|Fmc Corporation|Spiral tee for tin sterilizors|
    CN203776087U|2014-03-31|2014-08-20|成都昌盛鸿笙食品有限公司|Food sterilization curing device|
    法律状态:
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    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    ES201830681A|ES2737501B2|2018-07-06|2018-07-06|FOOD TREATMENT DEVICE FOR HIGH HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES IN CONTINUOUS REGIME AND ASSOCIATED PROCEDURE|ES201830681A| ES2737501B2|2018-07-06|2018-07-06|FOOD TREATMENT DEVICE FOR HIGH HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES IN CONTINUOUS REGIME AND ASSOCIATED PROCEDURE|
    PCT/ES2019/070469| WO2020008096A1|2018-07-06|2019-07-03|Device for treatment of foods by means of high hydrostatic pressures continuously and associated method|
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